Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-30
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The plans below show a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 6.5)
The two plans show how Porth Harbour has changed between 2000 and the present day.
Overall, the harbour has undergone developments, especially the introduction of tourist facilities. The most significant changes are the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel and the addition of cafes, shops and shower and toilet facilities. Meanwhile, the road, car parks, marina and public beach have remained in place.
In 2000, car parks, a shower and toilet block, and a yacht marina were located along the western sider of harbour. Fishing boat were postioned in the southern section, while a dock and passenger-ferry facilities were situated in the north. A lifeboast station stood near the southern end. On the eastern side, there was a disused castle and a public beach.
Currently, the car parks and the marina remain in their locations. Howeverm fishing boats have been removed to the northern part, near the dock. Another shower and toilet block has been added beside the lower car park. In addition, cafes and shops have been built near the lofeboat station.
The castle have been replaced by a hotel, and the beach is private for hotel guests. The publiv beeach and passenger- ferry facilties remain unchanged.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The student successfully covers all parts of the task, providing a clear and comprehensive summary of the changes to Porth Harbour between 2000 and today. An effective overview is included in the second paragraph, highlighting the main developments such as the replacement of the castle with a hotel and the addition of tourist amenities like cafes and shops. Key spatial comparisons are made accurately, noting the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, as well as the changes to the beach areas. The response fulfills all requirements of Academic Task 1 without any significant omissions or misinterpretations of the visual data.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0
The response is logically organised into five well-structured paragraphs, moving from an introductory statement and general overview to detailed descriptions of the past layout and present modifications. Information and ideas are sequenced logically with clear progression. Cohesive devices are used appropriately, such as 'Overall', 'Meanwhile', 'In 2000', and 'Currently', which guide the reader smoothly through the temporal and spatial changes. Paragraphing is used sufficiently, and referencing throughout the text is generally clear, contributing to an effective and easy-to-follow flow of information.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suitable for describing maps and geographical changes, using terms such as 'undergone developments', 'relocated', and 'remain unchanged'. However, there are a few noticeable typographical and lexical errors, such as 'western sider' instead of 'side', 'Fishing boat were postioned' instead of 'were positioned', 'Howeverm' instead of 'However', and 'publiv beeach' instead of 'public beach'. Despite these minor slips, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning with reasonable precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating passive voice ('have been removed', 'have been built') and prepositional phrases effectively. While many sentences are grammatically sound, there are several noticeable grammatical and agreement errors, notably 'The castle have been replaced' (subject-verb agreement), 'the beach is private for hotel guests' (slightly awkward phrasing), and occasional spelling issues. These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the response from achieving a higher band score due to a lack of consistent grammatical control in complex forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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